#DataNews: 25 Gov’t Doers, Attracting Tech Talent, & More

Government Technology released its annual list of the Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers this week — see the public-sector leaders who are transforming digital government. Plus, advice for how cities can compete with tech giants to attract talented candidates, and a look at what’s next for open data in Seattle. Read more of the week’s biggest stories.

Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers of 2017: An Inspiring Look at What’s Right in Government

“Our annual Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers is once again an inspiring look at what’s right in the public sector….As always, the list is peppered with a healthy supply of CIOs in local and state government. You’ll also find public-sector leaders serving in a variety of other roles, whose work impacts the way that technology is used to improve outcomes. Others in the Top 25 are making significant impacts on how government does business in their roles outside of government.” Read more from Government Technology.

5 Steps to Recruit Tech Talent to Your City

“City officials intent on using technology to improve the way they operate face a range of obstacles in convincing talented data analysts, systems architects, and coders to come work for them. How can a city compete with tech giants like Google or Facebook that can offer much larger salaries, access to trendy products, and stylish work environments? Based on my experience in city government, as well as many conversations with mayors, department heads and chief data officers, I’ve learned that improving communications to job-seekers and creating a more tech-friendly city environment can go a long way toward appealing to the best of the IT world.” Read more from Data-Smart City Solutions.

“The Seattle Open Data Program has published its 2016 Annual Report and its 2017 Open Data Plan, giving the city a look into its recent past and upcoming future….The 2016 Annual Report is a primer on what has been accomplished since Mayor Ed Murray signed an executive order requiring all of the city government’s data to be “open by preference,” meaning after privacy and security have been accounted for, the city’s preference will be to publish all data. The 2017 Open Data Plan, meanwhile, sets the key priorities that will stem from the 2016 progress, including increasing open data to encourage innovation, while simultaneously increasing the ability of city agencies to use data to make informed choices.” Read more from Government Technology.

4 Ways to Build a More Effective Open Data Program

“Open data initiatives are helping local governments everywhere establish trust and transparency while garnering greater resident participation and accessibility to resources. And they are launching everywhere….But as cities embark on new open data policies, it’s important to understand how to securely and effectively implement open data initiatives.” Read more from StateTech.

“Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) sent letters to 24 chief financial officer agencies on Friday, urging leadership to ‘prioritize efforts’ to comply with the Digital Accountability and Transparency (DATA) Act. ‘Once fully implemented, [the DATA Act] will represent a key step in making government more transparent, accessible and accountable by transforming federal spending information into open data,’ Warner said, adding ‘if carried out well [it] will assist you in efforts to ensure that your agency is well-managed and providing transparency and accountability to taxpayers.’” Read more from Federal News Radio.